Septic tank



L. PETERSON March 8, 1966 SEPTIC TANK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 30, 1962 Marsh 5 1% a... PETERSON 3,239,058

SEPTIC TANK Filed Nov. 30, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent 3,239,068 a SEPTIC TANK Leonard Peterson, 201 S. th St., Mount Horeb, Wis. Filed Nov. 30, 1962, Ser. No. 241,411 8 Claims. (Ci. 210-532) This invention relates to improvements in septic tanks.

The cleaning of septic tanks and the sewage lines leading to and from the septic tank has heretofore been a difficult and time consuming task. Septic tanks have lateral sewage inlet and outlet openings in the sides which connect to the sewage lines and bafiles are commonly provided at the inlet and outlet openings to prevent raw sewage from passing directly from the inlet to the outlet of the tank. These battles not only impede the insertion of a cleaning tape into the tank openings and the sewage lines connected thereto, but also form somewhat confined areas in the tank which tend to become clogged and require cleaning. In order to provide access to the inlet and outlet openings and to the baflie areas, it is common practice to form the septic tank so that the entire top is removable. While this construction enables cleaning of the tank and lines when the entire top is removed, it markedly aggravates the problem of gaining access to the tank and removing the top. The septic tanks must be buried a substantial distance below ground level and, in order to enable removal of the entire top and to provide a working area around the tank, it is necessary to dig a very large and deep hole, substantially larger than the tank. In accordance with the present invention, the septic tank is formed with a relatively small access hole in the top and a casing which extends upwardly from around the access opening to a point adjacent ground level to enable easy access to the tank interior without requiring digging of a large hole, and provision is made for cleaning the tank and sewer lines through this access opening.

An important object of this invention is to provide a septic tank in which the lateral sewage openings and the sewage lines connected thereto can be cleaned without requiring digging of a large hole as required in prior tanks with removable tops.

Another object of this invention is to provide a septic tank in which the lateral sewage openings and the sewage lines connected thereto and the baflle areas of the tank can be readily cleaned when the operator is at ground level.

A more particular object of this invention is to provide a septic tank having clean out tape guide passages formed therein and extending from the access opening in the top of the tank to a point adjacent the lateral sewage openings in the tank for guiding a tape from the access opening into the lateral sewage openings and into the lines connected thereto for cleaning the same.

Still another object of this invention is to provide an improved arrangement for cleaning the baffle areas in the septic tank and which cleaning apparatus is manipulable from the access opening.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a septic tank which is of simple and economical construction.

These, together with other objects and advantages of this invention will be more readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the septic tank;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal view through the septic tank;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the septic tank with parts broken away to illustrate details of construction;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view through the septic tank, taken on the plane 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view through the septic tank, taken on the plane 55 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary transverse sectional view through the septic tank, taken on the plane 66 of FIG. 2.

While the septic tank of the present invention can take different forms, it is preferably in the form of an elongated cylinder 10 having end walls 11 and 12 at opposite ends. The end walls are attached to the tank as by welding and, as shown in FIG. 4, are conveniently formed with a peripheral flange 13 which is attached to the cylindrical side wall of the tank. Sewage inlet and outlet openings are formed preferably in opposite sides of the tank and, as shown in FIG. 2, the end wall 11 has a raw sewage inlet opening 15 formed therein adja-. cent the top of the tank, and the end wall 12 has a treated sewage outlet opening 16, also located adjacent the top of the tank but spaced a short distance, for example, two inches below the inlet opening so as to maintain the liquid level L below the inlet opening. A flange 18 is attached to the Wall 11 around the inlet opening and is dimensioned to receive the sewage inlet line 19 which extends to the house or other building. A similar flange 21 is attached to the end wall 12 around the outlet opening 16 and is dimensioned to extend inside the sewage outlet pipe 22, which leads to the dry well or distribution lines of the sewage system. An inlet baflle 25', herein shown in the form of an upright channel and including a plate 26' and legs 27' is attached to the end wall 11 and overlies the sewage inlet opening 15. As will be seen, the inlet baflle 25' is open at the top and also at the bottom so as to direct the raw sewage downwardly in the tank. An outlet baffle 25 is mounted on the end wall 12 and includes a baflle plate 26 that overlies the outlet opening and legs 27 that extend from the plate to the end wall. The outlet baffle is also open at the top and bottom. Thus, the baflles prevent direct flow of raw sewage from the inlet to the outlet.

An access hole or manhole 31 is formed in the top of the tank, intermediate the end walls 11 and 12. As shown, the access hole has a generally rectangular configuration, it being understood that the access hole could have a different shape, if desired. A casing 32 is attached to the tank and extends upwardly around the access hole, which casing includes opposed sides 33 and 34, and ends 35 and 35. The tanks are buried different depths, in ditferent installations. For very shallow bury depths, a cover plate 38 is directly mounted on the casing 32, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, to close the access hole. The cover plate 38 is conveniently detachably secured to the casing as by bolts 39 that thread into lugs 40 attached to the casing. In some installations, however, the tank is buried quite far below ground. In order to minimize the amount of digging required to provide access to the interior of the tank, one or more casing extensions designated 43 are advantageously provided, to extend the casing 32 to a point adjacent ground level. As shown, the casing extensions also include spaced sides 33 and 34' and spaced ends 35' and 36' respectively. The casing extensions 43 have a lower set of lugs 44 and bolts 45 extend through the lower lugs 44 and into the lugs 40 on the casing 32 to secure the casing extension to the casing. An upper set of lugs 40' is also provided on the casing extensions to receive the bolts 39 for securing the cover 38 thereto. As is apparent, one, two or more casings extensions 43 can be used and stacked in assembled relation to extend from the tank to a point adjacent ground level. This minimizes the amount of digging necessary to enable removal of the cover 38 for access to the interior of the septic tank.

In order to facilitate use of a plumbers cleaning tape to clean out the sewage openings and 16 andthe sewage lines connected thereto, a pair of tape guide tubes 51 and 51 are provided and shaped to extend from a point adjacent the access hole to a point adjacent the respective sewage opening, to guide the tape from the access hole to the respective sewage opening. As previously noted, the inlet and outlet sewage openings 15 and ,16 are similarly positioned with respect to the top of the tank and to the access hole, except that the outlet opening is offset a short distance below the inlet opening. In order to reduce the number of the different parts which must be fabricated, the tubes 51 and 51 are advantageously similarly formed and arranged so that they will properly guide the tape into either the inlet or the outlet opening. The tube 51 which extends from the access hole to the outlet sewage opening is shown on a larger scale in FIGS. 4 and 5, and will be specifically described hereinafter. Like numerals are used to designate corresponding parts of the tube 51' which extends from the access hole to the inlet opening. The tubes 51 and 51' are longitudinally curved and may be formed in two sections such as 52 and 53 which have their axes angulated with respect to each other and which are interconnected along a joint 54. Alternatively, the guide tubes could be bent to the proper shape. The tubes 51 and 51' each have their lower ends attached to the respective baffle and 25'. The lower ends of the guide tubes communicate with openings 56 and 56 in the baffles, and which openings are positioned in approximate alignment with the respective sewage inlet and outlet openings. As shown in FIG. 4, the center of the opening 56 in the balfie 25 is spaced slightly above the center of the sewage outlet opening 16, but the alignment between the opening 56 and the opening 16 is such that the plumbers tape indicated in phantom at T in FIGS. 2 and 4 and which tape frequently carries a ball B on its end, will be guided from the guide tube into the sewage outlet opening 16. The opening 56 in the baffle 25' is similarly disposed in approximate alignment with the inlet opening .15 to guide the plumbers cleaning tape into the inlet opening. The other end of each of the tape guide tubes 51 and 51' extends upwardly to a point adjacent the upper end of the access opening. The upper ends of the tubes are preferably located inside the casing, so as to be covered by the cover plate 38 and, as shown, the portions 52 of the guide tubes extend downwardly through openings 58 and 58' in (the ends and 36 of the casing, and through openings 59 and 59' in the top of the tank. This arrangement minimizes the angle between the portions 52 and 53 of the tape guide tubes and facilitates guiding of the cleaning tape T from the access opening into the respective sewage inlet or outlet opening 15 or 16. In order to also facilitate guiding of the cleaning tape T when the casing extensions 43 are used, the latter are preferably formed with pipe extensions 61 and 61' which are attached to the casing extensions and positioned so as to register with the tubes 51 and 51' when the casing extension is mounted on the casing.

The above described arrangement facilitates cleaning out the sewage openings 15 and 16 and the sewage lines connected thereto. However, problems are also encountered in clogging of the areas between the bafiles 25 and 25' and the respective end walls. This clogging occurs primarily at the water level in the septic tank and, in accordance with the present invention, an apparatus is provided which is manipulable from the access opening for cleaning the baffle area. For this purpose, paddles designated 65 and 65 are mounted for movement in the areas between the baffles and the respective sewage openings, to break up any crust or layer which may form in that area. The paddles are preferably mounted for swinging movement on a rod 66, which rod is supported adjacent one end on the respective bafile plate, and at the other end on brackets 68 and 68 adjacent the access hole. The rod axis is located adjacent one side of the baffie, as

shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, so as to not interfere with the normal flow of fluid between the sewage openings and the septic tank, and the paddles extend from the rod into the space between the bafile plate and the respective end wall. The battle plates are normally positioned above the respective opening as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 and are preferably angulated so as to provide additional clearance above the respective sewage opening. The paddles are movable in an arc as indicated by the arrow in FIG. 6 to the dotted line position shown in that figure, to sweep the area between the battle and the end wall and break up any layer or sediment that may accumulate there. Provision is made for manipulating the paddles from the access hole and as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, arms 71 are attached to the rods 66 and 66' and extend laterally thereof. The outer ends of the arms 71 are pivotally attached as by a pin 72 to a link rod 73. As will be seen from FIG. 5, the rod 73 can be manually grasped and reciprocated to swing the paddles to clean the baffle areas. When casing extensions such as 43 are used, link rod extensions 75 are also provided and connected to the link rods as by couplings 76.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that the casing and easing extensions enable access to the tank without requiring digging of a large deep hole, and substantially independent of the burial depth of the septic tank. The tape guide tubes 51 and 51' operate to guide the cleanout tape through the sewage openings in the tank and into the sewage lines connected thereto, to thereby enable cleaning of the sewage lines through the access opening, while the operator is at substantially ground level. In addition, the bafile areas can also be readily cleaned by operating the link rods to swing the clean-out paddles 65, 65 across the bafile area. When the tanks are buried at relatively deeper depths, the casing extensions 43 are used to extend the casing to adjacent ground level, and the casing extensions also provide extensions for the tape guide tubes to guide the tape from ground level into the sewage openings and sewage lines.

I claim:

1. A septic tank having lateral sewage inlet and outlet openings in the sides of the tank adjacent the top thereof and an access hole in the top intermediate the sides and having a size less than the size of the top of the tank, inlet and outlet bafile plates in said tank each being spaced laterally from a respective one of the sewage openings and each having an opening therein in approximate alignment with its respective sewage opening, a casing attached to said tank around said access hole and extending up wardly therefrom, first and second tape guide tubes each extending from a point adjacent the upper end of said casing to the opening in a respective one of the baffle plates for guiding a tape from the upper end of the casing, through the tube, across the space between the respective bafiie plate and side of the tank, and into the respective sewage opening, means for attaching the upper end of each said tape guide tubes to said casing, means for attaching the lower end of each said tape guide tubes to each respective battle plate, first and second clean-out paddles mounted for movement between each baffle plate and the adjacent side ofthe tank for cleaning the area between the bafiie plates and the sides, and manually operable means connected to each paddle and extending to the casing for moving the paddles.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said manually operable means includes first and second rods mounted on said tank for turning about a generally horizontal axis extending laterally of the tank, an arm on the end of each rod adjacent said access opening, and a link articulated to each arm and extending upwardly into said casing.

3. In combination, a septic tank having lateral sewage inlet and outlet openings in the sides of the tank and ad jacent the top thereof, the tank having an access hole in the top of the tank having a size less than the size of the top of the tank, at least one bafile member overlying one of said sewage openings and attached to the tank, said bathe member extending crosswise of said one sewage opening and depending to a level below the same and shaped with a portion spaced away from the side of the tank to form a substantially enclosed flow passage area adjacent the side of the tank, a clean-out paddle mounted for swinging movement in the flow passage area between said portion of said baffie member and the side of the tank, and a manually operable means connected to the paddle for swinging said paddle to clean said flow passage area and comprising a rod connected to said paddle and extending generally horizontally from the paddle to a point substantially below the access hole, means rotatably supporting the rod on the tank, an arm attached to said rod, and a link articulated to said arm and extending upward to a point disposed adjacent the access hole.

4. A septic tank defining an enclosure having lateral sewage inlet and outlet openings in the sides of the tank and adjacent the top thereof and having an access hole in the top of the tank having a size less than the size of the top of the tank and spaced horizontally from at least one of the sewage openings, a baflle member overlying said one sewage opening and attached to the tank, said baffie member extending crosswise of the sewage opening and depending to a level below the same and shaped with a portion spaced away from the side of the tank to form a substantially enclosed flow passage adjacent the side of the tank, said baflie member shaped with an opening in approximate alignment with said one sewage opening, a tape guide passage means extending from a point adjacent the access hole to said bafiie member and attached to the baflle member around said battle opening with the end of the passage means spaced later-ally from said one sewage opening to provide a substantially unobstructed area for said flow passage, said tape guide passage means shaped to guide a cleaning tape from the access hole, through the opening in said baflle member, across the space between the baffie member and the side of the tank, and into said one sewage opening, a means for mounting the tape guide passage means in the tank, a clean-out means mounted for movement in the passage area between said baffle member and the side of the tank, and a manually operable means connected to the clean-out means and extending to a point adjacent said access hole for moving said clean-out means to clean said flow passage area.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said manually operable means includes a rod rotatably mounted in the tank and extending from the clean-out means to a point below the access hole, an arm attached to said rod, and a link articulated to said arm and extending upwardly to a point adjacent said access hole.

6. In combination, a septic tank having lateral sewage inlet and outlet openings in the sides of the tank and adjacent the top thereof, the tank having an access hole in the top of the tank having a size less than the size of the top of the tank and spaced horizontally from at least one of the sewage openings, a baffle member aflixed to the tank and having a portion spaced laterally from the side of the tank and from said one sewage opening and extending crosswise of the sewage opening in overlying relation thereto, said bat-He member having a bafile opening in approximate alignment with said one sewage opening, a casing attached to said tank around said access hole and extending upwardly therefrom, and a tape guide passage means in communication with said bafi le opening and having a lower end attached to said bafile and having an upper end disposed inside the casing and attached thereto, and a removable cover plate means closing the top of the casing, said tape guide passage means including a downwardly inclined portion extending from inside the casing, through the casing wall and externally of the casing and tank, and then through the tank top and back into the tank at a point intermediate the casing and the side of the tank.

7. A septic tank defining an enclosure having lateral sewage inlet and outlet openings in the sides of the tank and adjacent the top thereof and having an access hole in the top of the tank having a size less than the size of the top of the tank and spaced horizontally from at least one of the sewage openings, a battle member overlying said one sewage opening and attached to the tank, said baffie member extending crosswise of said one sewage opening and depending to a level below the same and shaped with a portion spaced away from the side of the tank to form a substantially enclosed flow passage adjacent the side of the tank, a generally horizontal laterally extending rod mounted on said tank for turning about an axis extending laterally of the tank; a clean-out means attached to said rod for turning therewith and disposed within said flow passage, and manually operable means connected to said rod and extending to a point adjacent said access hole for turning the rod to swing the clean-out means and clean the flow passage area.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said manually operable means includes an arm on the rod adjacent said access opening, and a link articulated to the arm and extending upwardly to a point adjacent the access hole.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 275,875 4/1883 Weston 210-375 X 788,721 5/1905 Johnson 210-532 X 1,109,944 9/1914 Schulenburg 210-538 1,607,280 11/1926 King 210-533 X 1,634,871 7/1927 Hepler 210-538 1,655,639 1/1928 Wilson 210-539 1,736,842 11/1929 Wilcox 15-2565 2,163,947 6/1939 Hochberger 15-1043 2,279,813 4/1942 Bent 210-320 2,446,964 8/1948 Stone 15-1043 3,109,813 11/1963 Bergsten et al. 210-532 FOREIGN PATENTS 77,507 8/ 1919 Austria. 388,952 6/ 1908 France.

REUBEN FRIEDMAN, Primary Examiner.

HERBERT L. MARTIN, Examiner. 

1. A SEPTIC TANK HAVING LATERAL SEWAGE INLET AND OUTLET OPENING IN THE SIDES OF THE TANK ADJACENT THE TOP THEREOF AND AN ACCESS HOLE IN THE STOP INTERMEDIATE THE SIDES AND HAVING A SIZE THAN THE SIZE OF THE TOP OF THE TANK, INLET AND OUTLET BAFFLE PLATES IN SAID TANK EACH BEING SPACED LATERALLY FROM A RESPECTIVE ONE OF THE SEWAGE OPENINGS AND EACH HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN IN APPROXIMATE ALIGNMENT WITH ITS RESPECTIVE SEWAGE OPENING, A CASING ATTACHED TO SAID TANK AROUND SAID ACCESS HOLE AND EXTENDING UPWARDLY THEREFROM, FIRST AND SECOND TAPE GUIDE TUBES EACH EXTENDING FROM A POINT ADJACENT THE UPPER END OF SAID CASING TO THE OPENING IN A RESPECTIVE ONE OF THE BAFFLE PLATED FOR GUIDING A TAPE FROM THE UPPER END OF THE CASING THROUGH THE TUBE, ACROSS THE SPACE BETWEEN THE RESPECTIVE BAFFLE PLATE AND SIDE OF THE TANK, AND INTO THE RESPECTIVE SEWAGE OPENING, MEANS FOR ATTACHING THE UPPER END OF EACH SAID TAPE GUIDE TUBES TO SAID CASING, MEANS FOR ATTACHING THE LOWER END OF EACH SAID TAPE GUIDE TUBES TO EACH RESPECTIVE BAFFLE PLATE, FIRST AND SECOND CLEAN-OUT PADDLES MOUNTED FOR MOVEMENT BETWEEN EACH BAFFLE PLATE AND THE ADJACENT SIDE OF THE TANK FOR CLEANING THE AREA BETWEEN THE BAFFLE PLATES AND THE SIDES, AND MANUALLY OPERABLE MEANS CONNECTED TO EACH PADDLE AND EXTENDING TO THE CASING FOR MOVING THE PADDLES. 